BY MIKE METTLER

Led Zeppelin soars again.

An extensive reissue program of all nine of the band’s studio albums will rollout in chronological order from Rhino/Atlantic/Swan Song, commencing with the June 3 release of deluxe editions of Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III. Each album has been remastered by Zep founder, guitarist, and producer Jimmy Page. The series will also feature previously unheard studio and live recordings, with each album containing a second disc of companion audio comprised of unreleased music related to that album. In the official press release, Page notes, “The material on the companion discs presents a portal to the time of the recording of Led Zeppelin. It is a selection of work in progress with rough mixes, backing tracks, alternate versions, and new material recorded at the time.”

We Zep fans have been waiting semi-patiently for these releases after they were first discussed seriously around the 2012 release of Celebration Day, the band’s December 10, 2007 tribute concert at London’s O2 Arena for Atlantic Records founder (and early Zeppelin champion) Ahmet Ertegun. At the October 9, 2012 Celebration Day press conference in New York, I asked Page if vinyl was the best way to listen to Zeppelin’s music. “Personally, I never let go of vinyl, even when CDs came onto the scene,” he told me. “But what I would recommend to you is that you don’t listen to Led Zeppelin on MP3s, that’s for sure.” I have to second that. Zeppelin on vinyl has always been my preferred listening choice — though I am also quite partial to the Dolby AC-3 Surround 5.1 mix on DVD-A that producer/engineer Kevin Shirley did for How the West Was Won and the 48kHz/24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio-only Blu-ray mix for Celebration Day.

Here’s what we’ll get. The Super Deluxe Editions will feature the remastered album on CD in a vinyl replica sleeve, and the companion CD in a new sleeve and on 180-gram vinyl. Led Zeppelin features a previously unreleased October 1969 concert from Paris, while II and III feature previously unreleased studio outtakes. The remastered album is on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve replicating the first pressing. A high-definition audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24-bit (with live tracks at 48kHz/24-bit). A hardbound, 70-page book is filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia. Also included is a high-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered. Led Zeppelin will also include a replica of the band’s original Atlantic press kit.

The step-down Deluxe Edition CD sets will feature the remastered album plus a second disc of unreleased companion audio. Led Zeppelin features the October 1969 Paris concert, II and III feature the previously unreleased studio outtakes. Deluxe and original edition vinyl, single CDs, and digital downloads will also be released separately.

Will the song remain the same? I’ll let you know as soon as I get a chance to wrap my ears around Zep remastered.

box set CD Celebration Day How the West Was Won Jimmy Page John Bonham John Paul Jones Led Zeppelin music Robert Plant vinyl